Take Time to Prepare for a Disaster

Disasters don’t plan ahead, but you can! September is National Preparedness Month, which serves as an important reminder to make sure you and your family are prepared for disasters.

The first step is to make a plan. Identify safe locations in your home to take shelter and paths to evacuate. Prepare a portable emergency kit with supplies for all family members and pets. Know how your family plans to communicate and where to meet if you are separated.

Sign up for AlertSCC to receive free emergency notifications where you live and work in Santa Clara County. To register, text your zip code to 888777 or visit www.alertscc.org

You can also volunteer for the Saratoga Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and learn to provide essential services to assist first responders during a disaster. To learn more, visit www.saratoga.ca.us/CERT

Visit www.ready.gov for more National Preparedness Month resources, and www.saratoga.ca.us/stayingsafe for information about the City’s programs.

Meet Saratoga's New Fire Chief, Tony Bowden!

Santa Clara County Fire Department Chief Tony Bowden stepped into his new role in August. Chief Bowden was born nearby in San Jose. Growing up, Chief Bowden lived next door to a firefighter who left a lasting impression on him. After graduating high school, Chief Bowden took an EMT course and began his journey in public service.

Chief Bowden began his fire service career with the City of Los Altos in 1996 and joined County Fire later that same year when the City contracted their fire services. He also has experience as a small business owner, and he spent 10 years coaching girls’ softball while serving on their Board of Directors. A culmination of these experiences have helped him become a well-rounded Chief Officer.

His first priorities as Fire Chief include working with County Fire staff to ensure personnel development and future succession planning, and focusing on a number of key capital projects in the works. He would like to help grow and develop more strong fire service leaders who are actively engaged in the community and focused on the changing needs of the citizens County Fire serves.

Coming Up

Superhero Dance for Individuals with Disabilities
September 21, 2018
7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Joan Pisani Community Center
www.saratoga.ca.us/herodance

Living Room Conversations
September 25, 2018
7:30 p.m.
Joan Pisani Community Center
408.868.1216

Mosaic Saratoga
October 5, 2018
7:00 p.m.
Saratoga High School McAfee Center
www.sangamarts.org

Nextdoor Digest

Tot Open Gym is in Session with New Equipment!
Saratoga Recreation’s popular Tot Open Gym program has returned after its summer break. This class provides unstructured play time for children up to 5 years old on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. in the Joan Pisani Community Center, 19655 Allendale Avenue. Drop in for $5 or purchase a discounted class package.

Traffic Safety Commission Special Meeting on September 25
After installation of the 4-way stop at Big Basin Way and 4th Street in March, the City collected traffic volume and circulation data around this intersection during the summer months. The Traffic Safety Commission will hold a special meeting to review this information on Tuesday, September 25 at 6:30 p.m. at the Saratoga Prospect Center, 19800 Prospect Road.

Join a Commission and Help Shape Your Community
The City of Saratoga is accepting applications for openings on multiple Commissions.
Applications for the Parks and Recreation Commission are due by September 20, and applications for both the Traffic Safety Commission and the Heritage Preservation Commission are due October 25. For more information, visit www.saratoga.ca.us/comvac

Are you not a member of Nextdoor, or did you miss a post last month? Read about the recent trending topics right here! Sign up to receive updates from the City of Saratoga, other agencies, and your neighbors at www.nextdoor.com

Quick Tip from Captain Rich

Captain Rich Urena oversees the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office West Valley Division.

Stay alert and safe in parking lots. Avoid distractions, like cell phones or headphones. Park in well-lit locations with pedestrian traffic. Always lock your doors and close windows. Never leave valuables in plain sight, and move them to your trunk before you arrive in the parking lot.

Keep track of crime in your area. Visit www.crimereports.com
Be notified when emergencies happen in your area. Sign up at www.sccgov.org/sites/alertscc
For information on Neighborhood Watch and tips on staying safe, visit www.saratoga.ca.us/stayingsafe

Ask Our Staff featuring Debbie Bretschneider

Do you have a question? Email it to us at lpettipiece@saratoga.ca.us

Q: How do I register to vote and learn about Saratoga City Council candidates?

A: I’m happy to hear you plan to participate in your local democratic process and vote in this year’s election! California has an online voter registration system, and paper registration forms are available in multiple languages at Saratoga City Hall. For more information on registering and voting, visit www.saratoga.ca.us/election

You will have multiple opportunities to hear directly from the Saratoga City Council Candidates. The first Candidate Forum will be held on Tuesday, October 9 at 7:00 p.m. in the Saratoga Civic Theater, 13777 Fruitvale Avenue. The Final Word Candidate Forum will then be held on Monday, November 5 at 7:00 p.m. also in the Civic Theater. This is an opportunity for Saratoga City Council Candidates to make their final statements to voters before Election Day.

Pizza and Politics is an informative event hosted for teens, by teens. The Saratoga, Campbell, and Cupertino Youth Commissions will host this opportunity for youth to hear from speakers and learn about local candidates on Friday, October 19 at 7:00 p.m. at Cupertino City Hall, 10300 Torre Avenue.

Debbie Bretschneider is the City Clerk who administers local democratic processes such as elections, access to City records, and all legislative actions ensuring transparency to the public. The City Clerk acts as a compliance officer for federal, state, and local statutes, including the Political Reform Act, the Brown Act, and the Public Records Act.

Connect with the City of Saratoga

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